First they tell Mr Gray he has a squamous cell carcinoma growth on his arm

[graywarrior]

Then they remove the growth...twice...the second time requires 20 stitches and they tell him they don't know what it is, they need to test it, come back in two weeks. I'm imagining the worst; he doesn't give it a second thought. He goes back today to have stiches removed and asks the surgeon what the test results are. They don't know. It's not squamous, it's not cancer, it's not basal cell. So what is it? A skin lesion. Freakiest god damn skin lesion I ever saw. He now has a 5 inch scar. I told him it woulda been cooler had it been on his face. He says nothing...just continues to drive.

Let me add that this entire waiting game took three fucking months from start to finish. Three months to get appointments, set up surgery, get results...for a skin lesion...they think.

Just ranting because if I don't, I'll cry.

[leftyclimber]

1. ..

:hug:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. My dear graywarrior...

Rant away, sweetie...

I'm sure the stress must be making you crazy...

It might have been a pre-cancer...

I'm so glad he's OK...

Now it's your turn...

:hug:

[graywarrior]

4. Coulda been

Either way, I have developed new respect for this guy. Not one day did he complain, get morbid, or act negative. He always figured it would turn out great...and it turned out to be not serious. What a guy.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

5. Your husband is a very cool guy...

After all, he had the very good sense to marry you...

:hug:

[graywarrior]

7. I tricked him

[mainegreen]

3. rant away;

We come to listen.

:hug:

[graywarrior]

8. Thanks....

and I really mean that.

[quakerboy]

15. whoa

You sound like Dr Cox in my head.

[Danger Mouse]

6. ...

:hug:

[Orrex]

9. Tell him to tell people that he was in a knife fight

Against four armed assailants.

Much cooler that way.



But I'm thrilled to hear that he's okay! :woohoo:

[graywarrior]

11. He'll use it in his act.

[Rhythm]

10. Ranting is good... Hugs are better...

:hug: :grouphug: :hug:

[graywarrior]

12. Thank you

:loveya:

[texanwitch]

13. My father had to deal with a problem like this with the VA hospital for the past year.

The skin cancer should have been dealt with sooner but no.

It got real nasty, and cost more then it should have.

Now he has a scar on the side of his head.

I hope your husband stays well.

[graywarrior]

14. That's who we dealt with...the VA

I mean, they did their best, but man three months is too long for something like that.

Hope your dad is going to be ok.

[texanwitch]

16. He is fine.

They told us they got all the cancer.

My father has a dip on the side of his head now and a scar.

We spent all summer dealing with this cancer, until it got really nasty looking.

[graywarrior]

17. Part of the worry is that you know you're at the bottom of the list

when it comes to getting treated because you have no other health insurance. Mr. Gray kept telling me I need to trust and have faith that we're getting taken care of. Guess I spend too much time here, so I'm way more cynical than he is.

[SoxFan]

18. Vent! Vent!

Actually, it sounds like your primary care doc needs to find a new pathologist. I had a nasty removed from my shoulder blade last summer, and the results came back in about 10 days. After my doc decided to go back and clear out some of the surrounding tissue, those results also came back in a bit over a week.

The scar does look pretty cool, though, even if it itches like a mofo!

[graywarrior]

20. This must be an epidemic that no one is talking about.

First, the skin thing
Second, waiting to get the skin thing treated

[SoxFan]

21. Well, mine was a close call

The freak-0-mole on my back was pre-cancerous. If it hadn't been removed, things might have gotten really ugly really fast.

[graywarrior]

26. And they told you that, right?

They told Mr. G thye had no idea what his was, that they'd never seen anything like it but that the biopsy showed no cancer cells. Still, they don't know what it was.

[SoxFan]

34. Jayzus

Is this the X-Files? Very strange.

[RetroLounge]

19. We came, You ranted, We listened...

and we hugged... :hug:

RL

[graywarrior]

27. Better than group therapy

[Dangerously Amused]

22. Rant away!!!

Honestly it sounds like you are handling this pretty well. Okay, a lot better than I would anyway.

Glad things turned out okay. Best to your both.

[Highway61]

23. Sounds like

the second time they did "MOHS" surgery. The first time was removal and the 2nd surgery was to get ALL the surrounding area (MOHS). Ask if that is what they did. If so...they did the latest of technique and is worth the wait to get it done. (I'm a nurse and the same thing happened to me early last year...mine was pre cancerous on my neck and I am all clear and do not have to go back.) Hang in there...your in my thoughts and good vibes are coming your way.:hug:

[graywarrior]

28. Thank you.

They did a shaving the first time and they said the biopsy showed squamous cells. The growth came back within a week, which they thought it might, so they scheduled the second surgery which is when they cut into it and took surrounding tissue. The second biopsy showed nothing. He does not have to return either. However, they want to check him every three months regardless.

It's good you got yours in time. I was concerned that everything took so long to get done. I mean, if it was cancer, letting it grow for 3 months is a little too much, in my opinion...but what do I know...I'm just the worrier. I should change my handle here from graywarrior to grayworrier.

[Haole Girl]

24. Doctors constantly amaze and frustrate me.

:hug:

[graywarrior]

29. I'm convinced they know shit

They're winging it most of the time. I worked at Mass General for about 7 years so I kinda know they're full of shit--brilliant, but faking it most of the way.

[KitchenWitch]

25. Gaaah, that sounds awful

Not knowing is the worst feeling in the world.

:hug:

[ThomCat]

30. At least it wasn't cancer.

That's wonderful news. :hug:

[graywarrior]

31. Yeah, we left the hospital relieved yesterday

Well, I did. Seems like Mr G already figured it was nothing.

[dembotoz]

32. had similar experience about 8 years ago

had a 3 lb growth in and around my intestines.
My primary said "we don't know what it is but it should not be there and has to come out"

The surgeon said "When you wake up, I will come in to talk to you. If i am by myself, that is good news. If i have another doctor with me, it will be an oncologist and that would be bad news."

He was by himself.

They still don't know what it was...... but my insurance paid for it....

Enjoy the holidays and the good news
because bad news just seems to appear too often

[graywarrior]

33. Wow, what a great story

I guess not everything is terminal. I wonder if most people think the worst like I do, or do they just figure it could never happen to them and things will turn out ok.